Nontraditional

When I transferred to Metro, I never considered myself anything but an ordinary student trying to finish my degree. Then I walked into my communications class and I felt home. I'm not ordinary in any facet of life. I've always stomped to my own beat, never followed the social norm, and yes I bought that navaho winter jacket from Goodwill that was a dollar. Best dang purchase ever! I meaannn, it has been above 40 degree's, but I looked sexy wearing it that one time it was cold. I like sweaters, the uglier the better. I own plaid converse, props to Janey for that purchase ;). The more mismatched my life is the better in my opinion. So when my communication's teacher said that he liked working with nontraditional students like myself, I thought, yeah, this is where I'm meant to be. Finally I feel like I belong to a community filled with people just like me. I'm not fighting to fit in, feeling strange walking the streets, or trying to outdo the person next to me. I was nervous at first when I parked my car and began the trek to the classroom. I even went earlier in the day to scope out the room so I would look like I've been there forever. As I walked through the doors of St. Johns hall, all of that nervousness melted away and turned into pure giddiness. I was actually excited about what was to come. There are people in my class who are married with three kids. There are kids who are right out of high school and there are people just like me. Many already have degree's and are just trying to advance their degree. There is a Ukraine woman who has one of the coolest accents on the planet. There's a wedding planner, a laid off man trying to get back into the field, and then there's me. But I didn't feel out of place like I felt at Marquette. And don't get me wrong, the two years I spent at Marquette prepared me for where I am now. I have an amazing group of friends that I'll have forever. I'll have my experiences as the mascot, and the experience of being out on my own. In the beginning of living in my old room, I felt as though I had taken a step back somehow. But in reality, I've taken so many more steps forward. My parents don't seem like my parents any more, they are my roommates.(Don't worry, I still see you as authority figures) And they go out way more than I do. I have all I could ask for and more. I get the satisfaction of knowing that I didn't follow the status quo. I didn't stay at Marquette because it was the normal thing to do. I didn't like something about it so I changed it. I get to go to work everyday and talk with my kids and help them out in any way they need. I've seen more growth in "Clyde" over the past month than I ever thought was possible. I've seen "Bonnie's" layers slowly peel away as she becomes more outgoing and social. I've seen, lets call him "George", become the sassy little 5th grader he's supposed to be. These three kids have had to go through more than any kid should have to, but they don't let it get them down. They get up everyday and they surprise me. And no matter how much they can just push my buttons sometimes, I know that we have a bond. I get to see what a lot of people around them don't get to see. In a way, they are a lot like me. Nontraditional.

My name is Mary and I am nontraditional in every way. But now I'm home.  And most of all, I'm happy. The journey is just beginning, but at least I now feel comfortable with the path I've chosen to take.

Fiona Apple-Extraordinary Machine